Chapter 3: After Class

Liam sat at the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. It was late in the evening, the campus quiet except for the distant hum of the streetlights outside. He’d spent the better part of the day in the library, trying to focus on the project he was supposed to be working on with Dominic. The only problem? He couldn’t stop thinking about Dominic.

He turned the phone over in his hands, debating whether to message him or not. It was late—too late for a casual text. But then again, what was casual? What was this thing between them? He wasn’t sure. Maybe it wasn’t anything at all.

Liam ran a hand through his messy hair and sighed. It had been a week since their first class together. The project was still in its early stages, but the more they worked on it, the more Liam found himself questioning his own feelings. Dominic was, without a doubt, unlike anyone he had ever met. He was confident, unapologetic, and somehow always seemed to know exactly what to say.

That last thought made Liam’s chest tighten. How did Dominic do that? How did he make Liam feel like everything was so much simpler than he allowed himself to believe? The more he tried to understand it, the more he realized that he couldn’t. Maybe it was a good thing. After all, they weren’t supposed to be anything more than project partners, right?

The screen lit up with a notification.

*Dominic Carter*

"Hey, Westbrook. We still on for meeting tomorrow? Thought we could finally start working on our masterpiece."

Liam read the message twice before his fingers hovered over the keyboard. He hesitated. Dominic didn’t seem like the type to worry about when to text or how to phrase it—everything about him was spontaneous. It made Liam nervous, but it also stirred something in him, something he wasn’t sure he wanted to face.

He typed back quickly, without thinking:

*Liam Westbrook*

"Yeah, sure. What time?"

The reply came almost immediately.

*Dominic Carter*

"How about 3? I’ll bring the coffee if you bring the ideas. Deal?"

Liam couldn’t help the small smile that tugged at his lips. He could feel Dominic’s charm even through the screen. He’d never been great at handling people like Dominic. It was easier to stay quiet, to keep his distance. But in this moment, he realized he didn’t want to keep his distance. Not really.

*Liam Westbrook*

"Deal."

He hit send and immediately felt a mix of excitement and anxiety surge through him. What had he just agreed to? He barely knew how to talk to someone like Dominic. But something about their dynamic had already shifted, and the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he wanted to see where it could go.

The next day, Liam arrived at the café early, as usual. He liked the quietness of the place, the soft murmur of conversations in the background, the smell of freshly brewed coffee. It was a world he could easily disappear into. When he saw Dominic walk in, however, the calm he’d felt earlier evaporated.

Dominic had that same carefree attitude, effortlessly walking up to the counter, flashing his usual smile at the barista, and ordering something Liam could barely pronounce. He wasn’t even trying to be noticed, but of course, he was. His energy filled the space, and Liam found himself both fascinated and intimidated by it.

"Hey, Westbrook," Dominic greeted, his voice light, almost teasing. "You’re on time. That’s a good sign." He slid into the seat across from Liam, placing two steaming cups of coffee on the table. "I got you a caramel macchiato. Hope you’re okay with that."

Liam nodded, reaching for the cup. "Thanks. I’ll take anything that helps me stay awake."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "I like that. I can tell you’re the kind of person who needs a little caffeine boost to get out of your head. Don’t worry, I won’t judge. Well, not too much, anyway."

Liam chuckled nervously, trying to keep his tone light. "I wasn’t planning on getting much done tonight, honestly. I mean, it’s not like I’m the best at this creative stuff."

Dominic leaned in slightly, his voice dropping in a way that made Liam’s heart race. "Don’t sell yourself short. I think you’ll surprise yourself. Just gotta let go of that fear of failing."

Liam looked down into his coffee, his fingers gripping the warm cup a little too tightly. "I don’t know. I don’t usually... let go of things," he admitted, his voice quieter now. He hadn’t meant to say that. The words just slipped out before he could stop them.

Dominic was silent for a moment, then smiled—softly, almost knowingly. "That’s alright. You don’t have to jump into everything all at once. But hey, we’re partners now. You can trust me."

Liam looked up, meeting Dominic’s gaze. There was something in his eyes, an understanding, maybe even a reassurance. But how could Liam trust someone like Dominic? Someone who seemed so comfortable in his own skin, someone who didn’t care what anyone thought of him?

But then again, maybe that was why Dominic was so captivating. Because he didn’t care. Maybe that was something Liam needed to learn.

The conversation shifted, and they spent the next few hours going over their project. Dominic suggested they do a character analysis from a play by Tennessee Williams, *A Streetcar Named Desire*. Liam had never really explored theater in depth before, but as Dominic broke down the characters, explaining the nuances of their relationships, Liam found himself drawn into the discussion.

"Blanche Dubois," Dominic said, tapping a pencil against his notebook, "she’s complex. She’s fragile and strong at the same time, don’t you think? It’s like she’s constantly hiding behind a mask, trying to keep her real self buried underneath all this bravado."

Liam nodded slowly, intrigued. "I guess that’s... something I can relate to."

Dominic raised an eyebrow. "Yeah? In what way?"

Liam shifted uncomfortably in his chair. "I don’t know. It’s just, like, I always feel like I have to pretend to be someone I’m not. Especially with my family. I can’t just... be myself."

Dominic leaned back, his expression softening. "Yeah, I get that. It’s like you’re afraid that if you take the mask off, people won’t accept you. But that’s not your problem, Westbrook. That’s theirs."

Liam didn’t know how to respond to that. He wasn’t sure he was ready to open up to Dominic about his family, about the fear he carried with him every time he thought about coming out. So instead, he simply nodded.

They continued working late into the evening, brainstorming ideas for the project. Dominic’s enthusiasm made the hours fly by, and Liam found himself actually enjoying the work, despite the initial discomfort. Dominic had a way of making everything feel less daunting, less intimidating.

As the café began to empty out, they realized they’d lost track of time.

"Guess we’ve pretty much wrapped it up for today," Dominic said, standing up from the table and stretching. "You did good, Westbrook. You’re not as stiff as you think you are."

Liam looked up, surprised by the compliment. "Thanks, I guess."

Dominic’s grin widened. "Hey, we’re a team now. Don’t sell yourself short. I think this is gonna turn out to be something really good."

As they left the café together, Liam felt the familiar weight of unease settle in his chest. He wasn’t sure what this growing connection was, or where it was leading. But for the first time in a long while, he felt like he was finally starting to let go of the walls he’d built around himself.

And maybe, just maybe, Dominic Carter was the person who could help him tear them down.

**End of Chapter 3**

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